Rousseau Flashcards
Where was Rousseau born?
Geneva
When did Rousseau leave Geneva
1728
Who commissioned Rousseau to write articles for the encyclopaedia?
Diderot (enlightenment figure)
When was the discourse on inequality completed and published
Completed 1754, published in 1755
Who can we argue was a huge influence on Rousseau’s writings?
Montesquieu, although he disagrees absolutely with Montesquieu’s conclusions
What is the key historical context of the discourse?
The enlightenment
What did Rousseau believe about the enlightenment
The growth of society, reason and language makes man capable of amazing things, but at the same time, such growth will ruin him
What is the aim of the discourse?
Examine the foundations of inequality among men, and determine whether this inequality is authorised by natural law
What does Rousseau believe about the natural state of men
Mans physical and mental characteristics make him an animal like any other, motivated by two key principles pity, and self preservation. What makes him different from animals is his perfectibility
What does man have in the state of nature?
Few needs, no idea of good and evil, and little contact with other humans
What happens as man becomes more aware of others?
He develops a series of new needs, the emergence of reason and society are related, but the process by which they evolve is a negative one
What is pity and self preservation replaced by when men begin to live in groups?
Amour propre, which drives men to compare themselves to other and to need to dominate others in order to be happy
What represents the beginning of moral inequality
The invention of property and the division of labour
What does property allow for?
The domination and exploitation of the poor by the rich
How do the rich trick the poor in to the creation of a political society?
They make the poor believe that this creation will secure their freedom and safety, but in fact it merely fixes the relations of domination that existed before, creating laws to establish inequality
